Sefalana introduces MOBILE Shopping App

SHARE | Monday, 27 November 2017 | By Staff Writer

Following the launch of Online Shopping website two years ago, this week Sefalana introduced a Mobile Shopping App as the group continues to leverage on technology. The mobile app, which is available across all platforms, can be downloaded for free on either Apple App store or Google play Store for android. Sefalana Group Finance Director Mohamed Osman said on Thursday at the launch of the app that the app boasts a range of over 32 000 products that one can choose form. “We created it with the help of customer insights from our online shopping website, developing a platform that is easy to navigate and convenient to use,” said Osman. With government having recently reported that Botswana has a mobile penetration rate of 180 percent, Osman said this means on average, every individual has more than one mobile device. He said with data rates significantly reducing and the internet infrastructure in Botswana becoming better, creating a Mobile App was seen as a necessary means of enabling customers to transact with the company. “We now offer our customers an in-store shopping experience, an online shopping experience and also a mobile phone shopping experience,” he said, adding tha all specials available in-store are available on the online and mobile applications. Osman said convenience and choice were at the forefront when they come up with all these initiatives.

According to Osman, 96 percent of the population is below the age of 47 and are technologically literate and can work their way around a mobile phone. He said the app is not only designed with individuals in mind, but have also positioned it so that businesses can place their orders using the mobile app and have their goods delivered to their offices. He believes this would save customers a lot of time. Through the use of the app, Sefalana has set a minimum order value of P500 and goods will be delivered to customers within 24 hours at a cost of P50 per delivery. Sefalana has partnered with FNBB and Botswana Post to deliver the goods and for payment facilitation. Osman said though many are of the view that technology is taking over, at Sefalana they believe that creating this technology has created more jobs within their business as well as providing opportunity for local businesses to be a part of this venture. “Sefalana had to setup and train an entire division within our business to manage our digital applications,” he said.